Buckle



(No Model.)

C. A. GONGER.

BUCKLE.

No. 520,588. Patented May 29, 1894.

' www X--. Af Timm l UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE..

CHARLES A. CCNGER, CE SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,588, dated May 29, 1894.

Applicatign led February 27, 18 94. Serial No. 501,661. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Il'3e it known that I, CHARLES A. CCNGER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification. n

My invention relates to improvements made in buckles for horse bitching-straps and other articles thatA require astrong and firmly holding buckle; but the improvements are as well applicable to the production of buckles of lighter description, such as those manufactured for skate-straps and shawl-straps and other light leather straps.

A The said improvements have for their obyect, mainly, the production of abuckle having all the holding properties or qualities of the ordinary tongue-buckle without any of the limitations in adjustment which are associated with the application and use of a tonguebuckle and spaced holes in the strap, and possessing. besides, the qualities of holding the strap with a firm grip under excessive strains and a readiness of adjustment under all conditions on a thick or stiff strap.

My said improvements consist in certain novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described producing` a positive grip, of improved construction with which said grip is combined producing an improved buckle for use either on the end of a strap as on skate-straps and shawl-straps or at a point in thelength of a strap more orless distant from the ends as in a bitching strap for horses.

These improvements and the manner in which I proceed to construct and apply the saine in the manufacture of buckles for straps and harness are fully explained in the followlng description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings that form part of this specification.

In the said drawingsz-Figure l is a plan or top-view of a buckle for a horse hitching strap embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of Fig. l taken through the line -xwith the grip'closed on the strap. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the position of the parts when the grip iis off. Fig. 4: represents in perspective the buckle frame and theparts composing the grip separated from one another. Fig. 5 isa plan or top view of a buckle-frame ,in which provision is made for sewing or otherwise permanently, securing it on the end of astrap. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 5 on the line -Wy-y.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the buckle is composed of a frame A `having cross-bars that sit in alternate order over and under the strap when the same is passed through the frame, and a movable pressure-plate B arranged between two of the bottom cross-bars to bear upon the strap from above, and a cam-lever or eccentric-lever C pivoted in the frameand adapted to press down and hold thev part -B- between the cross-bars that support the strap.

In the case of abuckle intended for a hitching strap, or to be used with a snap-hook, I construct the frame -A as shown in Figs.

l, 2, 3 and 4 with a hook or turned beak .-A-

to take a-ring -D. Butrwhere a buckle is designed for use on the end of a strap -I substitute for the hook on the frame a cross-bar -5- across that end to which the strap -x is secured by passing its end around the bar in a loop -xand then fastening the en-d by stitching or rivets. This last described construction is shown in Figs. -5 and 6. The arrangement of the remaining cross-bars and the construction of the parts -B- and -O- are the same in both forms or styles of buckle-frame described. At the opposite end,

or what may be termed the front end of the buckle, are two bars -1--2- one at the top across the end of the frame and the other 2M at the bottom and somewhat to one side of the top-bar -l-- when looking at the side of the frame as in Figs. -2--3- and substantially parallel with the top bar. Between this front end and the back end of the frame is a second cross-bar-S-also across the bottom or the under side of the frame ata point aboutone-third the length of the frame distant from the back end. This second bar -3- is broader than the other bars before described, as will be seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5,

and in cross-section it resembles a wedge with IOO bar and the line of the other bottom crossbar .2- at the front, there are open sockets -4--4- on the inner faces of the side-bars of the frame with circular recesses and slots opening from them or to the inside of the frame downward.

The part -B- which I have termed the pressure plate is formed with a curved cra dle-piece -7- of suitable breadth to sit loosely into the open space between the two cross-bars --2-3- with a convex bottom-face next the strap and a concave top-face having a groove or depression -8- along the lowest part of the concavity and ridges or raised portions -99 along the edges of the depression. The body of this plate from the curved portion, or cradle, before mentioned, to the front end is substantially straight, and at that end it is turned up and stands about perpendicular, so that when the cradle is in place with the straight portion of the plate resting in the opening between the bars of the frame and upon the bottom cross-bars -2-v this turned-up end 1l of the plate will sit against the top cross-bar -1- from the outside.

The third one of the parts composing this bu'cklewhich I have termed the eccentric lever is set in the frame above the pressure-plate -]3V already described, and is retained in place principally by the open sockets -t4 .on the sides of the frame, but also'by the end of the lever engaging with the hook or part --A on the end of the frame. This part C is a lever with pivots or journal portions--lO--lO- on the broad end tted loosely into the sockets *1t-4 on the frame and an eccentric portion -12- on the under side projecting 'downwardly from the pivot-bearing end into the concavity of the cradle beneath and sitting toward the front slightly out of the direct perpendicular under the pivots. The lever is of proper length to rest at the end against the hook or part -A- and an open slot or rectangular notch 14- is made in the end to take over that part, so that the lever when turned down cannot move sidewise. On the back of the lever C or that end which is presented to the front of the buckle when the lever is in place, there is a projecting rib or fin 14.- of suitable length to it loosely between two lips or stops l5- 15-o'n the top of the piece 13. The ottice of these stops is to confine this broader end of the lever in like manner as the hook or projection -A'-- confined the lever at the outer end. A lug or stop -l6 on the topfacel of the plate behind the upwardly turned end sits against the back of the top cross-bar l when the plate -B- is in place, and between these'standing parts or projections -'11 and -l6`- the cross-bar is confined, so that the plate is kept from moving longitudinally from between the two cross-bars -1-2.

The parts of the buckle are put together by setting the plate =B between the two crossbars *1 2* from the front end of the frame and dropping the curved cradle under the sockets -4-4- into the opening between the bottom bars or cross-pieces 3i- 4. After this, the pivots of the lever are inserted from below into the sockets -4-4 and the end of the Y lever is thrown back toward thefront end of the frame against the top-cross bar as represented in Fig. --3. In this position the buckle is ready t0 receive the strap.

Figs. -2-- and -3- clearly show the manner of setting the strap through the buckle. Its end is inserted through the slit or opening between the two cross-bars -l-2- at the front of the frame and beneath the plate -B- and is passed over the broad cross-piece 3- and finally under the-cross-barat the'back end of the frame. The cradle-piece at this time lies loosely on the strap without pressure, but as the outer end of the lever-O-is turned on the pivot and brought down into position toward the rear of the frame, the cradle is pressed down between the two cross-bars -2-3- and the strap is seized and held with a firm .grip and a continuous pressure. In this position the .end of the eccentric portion of the lever below the pivots rests in the groove or depression in the cradle and is so confined by the ridges or raised parts in front of and behind the groove that it cannot move to one side or to the other until the lever is raised and thrown over by hand; therefore, the cradle is held down and securely locked in position.

It will be noticed that no rivets or fastenings are used in this buckle to attach the parts together; they are confined however by virtue of their peculiar arrangement of the stops and projections engaging the bars of the frame. l

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein described buckle consisting of the frame -A- having the cross-bars --1-2- at one end, between which the end ofthe strap is inserted, the bottom cross-bar -3- between the bai '2 and the opposite end of the frame and the inwardly turned hook or beak -A- on the top ot' the frame, in combination with the plate -B having the cradle-piece and the upwardly turned end litted between the cross-bars of the frame and the lever -C- pivoted in the frame and having an eccentric portion extending below the pivots and resting in the cradle-piece and adapted by the pivotal movement of the lever to press the cradle piece down between the crossbars of the frame, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the frame having cross# bars and openings as described, of the loose pressure-plate having a curved cradle-piece adapted to fit into the opening between two parallel cross-bars on the frame and provided with a groove or depression in its concave IOO upper-face and the pivotal lever having an eccentric portion below the line of its pivot adapted to sit in the depression of the cra-v dle and by the pivotal movement of its lever to press the cradle outward through the opening between the cross-bars of the frame.

3. The combination substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a suitable frame, a pivoted lever having an eccentric projection on its under side below the line of the pivot, and a curved cradle-piece fitted loosely into an opening in the frame between cross -bars thereof on either side of and below the pivotal points of the lever having a groove or depression in its concave upper face into 15 which the eccentric portion of the lever'rests; the pivotal movements of the lever acting to press and hold the said cradle-piece outward in the said opening of the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 2o have hereunto set my hand and seal.

CHARLES A. CONGER. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OSBORN, R. M. EDWARDS. 

